Power takeoff shaft protection

ABSTRACT

A power takeoff shaft protection which essentially consists of elastic synthetic resinous material and which is mounted by means of an annular flange on a mounting ring provided at the bearing support of the power takeoff shaft.

United States Patent Riissler et al.

POWER TAKEOFF SHAFT PROTECTION Inventors: Heinrich Rosier, Baden-Baden; Manfred Hentschel, Rotenfels (Murgtal), both of Germany Assignee: Daimler-Bail Aktiengesellschalt, Stuttgart- Unterturkheim, Germany Filed: Nov. 20, 1969 Appl. No.: 878,386

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 23, 1968 Germany ..P 18 10 542.5

us. 121. ..74/609, 180/53 D 1111. c1 ..Fl6p 1/02 Field 01 Search ..74/608, 609, 15.6; 180/53 D;

[ 1 Feb. 15,1972

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,499,694 7/1924 Rogers ..74/609 X 2,107,760 2/1938 McCormick et al. ..180/53 X 2,578,630 12/1951 Hartman 74/608 X 2,873,765 2/1959 Gregory 138/96 Primary ExaminerWilliam F. ODea Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker AnomeyCraig, Antonelli and Hill [5 7] ABSTRACT A power takeoff shaft protection which essentially consists of elastic synthetic resinous material and which is mounted by means of an annular flange on a mounting ring provided at the bearing support of the power takeoff shaft.

10 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PAIENIEnram-me- 3.641340 INVEN HEINRICH RO' MANFRED HENTSCHEL ATTORNEYS POWER TAKEOFF SHAFT PROTECTION The present invention relates to a protection for a power takeofi shaft which essentially consists of a hood-shaped part that is secured at the vehicle and covers from above the power takeoff shaft extending from the vehicle.

A power takeoff shaft protection of this type was made heretofore of sheet metal and threadably connected at the vehicle. However, it has been discovered that during the connection of joint shafts, this prior art type of construction frequently lead to dangerous injuries caused by cuts and scratches at the hands of the persons carrying out these operations. Additionally, it has been noted that a power takeoff shaft protection damaged by external influences which was made from sheet metal, was simply disassembled in order to enable coupling and uncoupling.

The present invention is concerned with the task to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages. The underlying problems are solved in accordance with the present invention in that the hood-shaped part consists of an elastic synthetic resinous material and is mounted by means of an annular flange provided on the same with stress on a mounting ring provided at the power takeoff shaft bearing.

It is achieved advantageously by the construction of the power takeoff shaft protection from an elastic synthetic resinous material which is appropriately resistant against atmospheric influences, crack formation and against the attack by oils or fats, that injuries during coupling and uncoupling can no longer occur. Additionally, it is achieved thereby that permanent deformations which impair the coupling or uncoupling or which would make the coupling or uncoupling completely impossible, no longer occur. By reason of the particular type of fixing at the vehicle, it is also possible to rotate the protection for the power takeoff shaft into a position in which the coupling and uncoupling can be carried out in a par ticularly simple and easy manner,

ln an advantageous type of construction of the present invention, the annular flange of the power takeoff shaft protection may be additionally provided internally thereof with a clamping means for a cuplike hood placed over the power takeoff shaft stub. it is possible thereby to arrange the hood protecting the power takeoff shaft stub against corrosion. Advantageously, this clamping means may consist of an annular groove rounded off in cross section into which engages an annular bead with rounded-off cross section and externally provided at the hood rim.

in order that during the assembly or after a turning away of the power takeoff shaft protection for facilitating the jointshaft coupling operation, the correct installed position is attained again, the annular flange at the hood-shaped part may be provided with a recess into which engages a projection arranged at the mounting ring.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a protection for a power takeoff shaft which avoids by simple means the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

Another object of the present invention resides in a power takeoff shaft protection which eliminates injury dangers to the hands of the operating personnel during coupling and uncoupling operations.

A further object of the present invention resides in a power takeoff shaft protection which is resistant against atmospheric influences as well as against attacks by oils and fats, yet substantially eliminates the possibility of permanent deformations thereof that might impair or prevent the coupling and uncoupling operations.

These and further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

The single FIGURE is a cross-sectional view through one embodiment of a power takeoff shaft protection in accordance with-the present invention.

Referring now to the single FIGURE of the drawing, the power takeoff shaft stub 1 projects from the end of a motor vehicle (not shown), for example, of a tractor. The power takeoff shaft stub l is supported at the side of the vehicle by means of the power takeoff shaft bearing 2 only illustrated schematically since of conventional construction. The power takeoff shaft stub 1 serves for the coupling or connection of a joint shaft which is placed by means of an unprotected joint part on the power takeoff shaft stub l.

The downwardly open hood-shaped part 3 is provided as power takeoff shaft protection for the protection of rotating joint parts; the hood-shaped protective part 3 essentially consists of an elastic synthetic resinous material of any known, conventional type, which is resistant against climatic influences, against cracks caused by light and against oil and which covers the power takeoff shaft stub 1 from above. For the purpose of assembling and fixing the hood-shaped part 3 is equipped with the annular flange 4. By means of this annular flange 4, the hood-shaped part 3 is mounted on the mounting ring 5 by utilizing the elasticity of its material, on which it is securely clamped under stress. The mounting ring 5 consists of metal and is nondisplaceably and nonrotatably secured in any conventional manner at the power takeoff shaft bearing 2.

For the purpose of securing the illustrated position of the power takeoff shaft protection, the recess 6 is provided in the annular flange 4 in the top portion thereof into which engages the projection 7 provided at the mounting ring 5 at a corresponding location.

In order to be able to cover the power takeoff shaft stub l, additionally with the cuplike constructed hood 8, the annular flange 4 is provided with the annular groove 9 rounded off in cross section for the purpose of clampingly securing the hood 8. The annular bulge or bead 10 with its rounded-off cross section and arranged at the rim of the hood 8 engages into the an nular groove 9.

Since the power takeoff shaft protection by reason of the elasticity of its material can be rotated about the center longitudinal axis through the power takeoff shaft stub 1 against the effect of the detent locking means consisting of the projection 7 and of the recess 6, and more particularly to such an extent that the open part of the hood 3 points, for example, upwardly, a good accessibility exists during the joint-shaft coupling operation. The internal diameter of the hood-shaped part 3 can therefore be selected relatively small.

While we have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to those skilled in the art, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are within the scope of those skilled in the 811.

We claim:

1. A power takeoff shaft protection which includes a-hoodshaped part that is secured at a vehicle and covers from above a power takeoff shaft projecting from the vehicle, said hood shaped part having an inverted U-shaped outer configuration when in its normal operating position, characterized in that the hood-shaped part essentially consists of an elastic synthetic resinous material, and clamping means for clampingly mounting the hood-shaped part at a relatively fixed part of the vehicle, said hood-shaped part having an open end opposite the end mounted to the clamping means, said open end extending substantially beyond the shaft end.

2. A power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping means includes annular flange means at the hood-shaped part engaging with stress into a mounting ring means provided at a support means for the power takeoff shaft.

3. A power takeofi' shaft protection which includes a hoodshaped part that is secured at a vehicle and covers from above a power takeoff shaft projecting from the vehicle, characterized in that the hood-shaped part essentially consists of an elastic synthetic resinous material, and clamping means for fixed part of the vehicle, said clamping means including annular flange means at the hood-shaped part engaging with stress into a mounting ring means provided at a support means for the power takeoff shaft, and said annular flange means being additionally provided internally thereof with a further clamping means for fixing a cuplike hood placed over the power takeoff shaft stub.

4. a power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 3, characterized in that the further clamping means essentially consists of an annular groove into which engages an annular bulge provided at the cuplike hood rim.

5. A power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 4, characterized in that said annular groove and annular bulge are of rounded-off cross section 6. A power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 4, characterized in that said annular flange means is provided with a recess into which engages a projection at the mounting ring means for locking the hood-shaped part in its assembled position.

7. A power takeoff shaft protection which includes a hoodshaped part that is secured at a vehicle and covers from above a power takeoff shaft projecting from the vehicle, said hood shaped part consisting essentially of an elastic synthetic resinous material, and clamping means for clampingly mounting the hood-shaped part at a relatively fixed part of the vehicle, characterized in that said hood-shaped part has an open section extending along the axial length thereof.

' 8. A power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 7, characterized in that the clamping means includes annular flange means at the hood-shaped part engaging with stress into amounting ring means provided at a support means for the power takeoff shaft.

' 9. A power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 8, characterized in that said hood is clamped such that it can be manually rotated to position the open section above the power takeoff shaft.

10. A power takeoff shaft protection which includes a hood- 

1. A power takeoff shaft protectiOn which includes a hood-shaped part that is secured at a vehicle and covers from above a power takeoff shaft projecting from the vehicle, said hood-shaped part having an inverted U-shaped outer configuration when in its normal operating position, characterized in that the hood-shaped part essentially consists of an elastic synthetic resinous material, and clamping means for clampingly mounting the hoodshaped part at a relatively fixed part of the vehicle, said hoodshaped part having an open end opposite the end mounted to the clamping means, said open end extending substantially beyond the shaft end.
 2. A power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping means includes annular flange means at the hood-shaped part engaging with stress into a mounting ring means provided at a support means for the power takeoff shaft.
 3. A power takeoff shaft protection which includes a hood-shaped part that is secured at a vehicle and covers from above a power takeoff shaft projecting from the vehicle, characterized in that the hood-shaped part essentially consists of an elastic synthetic resinous material, and clamping means for clampingly mounting the hood-shaped part at a relatively fixed part of the vehicle, said clamping means including annular flange means at the hood-shaped part engaging with stress into a mounting ring means provided at a support means for the power takeoff shaft, and said annular flange means being additionally provided internally thereof with a further clamping means for fixing a cuplike hood placed over the power takeoff shaft stub.
 4. a power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 3, characterized in that the further clamping means essentially consists of an annular groove into which engages an annular bulge provided at the cuplike hood rim.
 5. A power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 4, characterized in that said annular groove and annular bulge are of rounded-off cross section.
 6. A power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 4, characterized in that said annular flange means is provided with a recess into which engages a projection at the mounting ring means for locking the hood-shaped part in its assembled position.
 7. A power takeoff shaft protection which includes a hood-shaped part that is secured at a vehicle and covers from above a power takeoff shaft projecting from the vehicle, said hood-shaped part consisting essentially of an elastic synthetic resinous material, and clamping means for clampingly mounting the hood-shaped part at a relatively fixed part of the vehicle, characterized in that said hood-shaped part has an open section extending along the axial length thereof.
 8. A power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 7, characterized in that the clamping means includes annular flange means at the hood-shaped part engaging with stress into a mounting ring means provided at a support means for the power takeoff shaft.
 9. A power takeoff shaft protection according to claim 8, characterized in that said hood is clamped such that it can be manually rotated to position the open section above the power takeoff shaft.
 10. A power takeoff shaft protection which includes a hood-shaped part that is secured to the vehicle and covers from above a power takeoff shaft projecting from the vehicle, and clamping means for clampingly mounting the hood-shaped part at a relatively fixed part of the vehicle, said clamping means including annular flange means at the hood-shaped part engaging with stress into a mounting ring means provided at a support means for the power takeoff shaft, and said annular flange means being additionally provided internally thereof with a further clamping means for fixing a cuplike hood placed over the power takeoff shaft stub. 